EP0251445A2 - Emballage pour cuisson au four à micro-ondes avec effets thermiques contrôlés - Google Patents

Emballage pour cuisson au four à micro-ondes avec effets thermiques contrôlés Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0251445A2
EP0251445A2 EP87303750A EP87303750A EP0251445A2 EP 0251445 A2 EP0251445 A2 EP 0251445A2 EP 87303750 A EP87303750 A EP 87303750A EP 87303750 A EP87303750 A EP 87303750A EP 0251445 A2 EP0251445 A2 EP 0251445A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
energy
package
paperboard
converting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP87303750A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0251445A3 (fr
Inventor
James R. Quick
Dennis A. Cooley
James W. Mitchell
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International Paper Co
Original Assignee
International Paper Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Paper Co filed Critical International Paper Co
Publication of EP0251445A2 publication Critical patent/EP0251445A2/fr
Publication of EP0251445A3 publication Critical patent/EP0251445A3/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B27/10—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of paper or cardboard
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
    • B65D81/3446—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2255/00—Coating on the layer surface
    • B32B2255/20—Inorganic coating
    • B32B2255/205—Metallic coating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/20—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
    • B32B2307/204—Di-electric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2317/00—Animal or vegetable based
    • B32B2317/12—Paper, e.g. cardboard
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2367/00—Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles
    • B32B2439/70—Food packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
    • B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D2581/3439—Means for affecting the heating or cooking properties
    • B65D2581/3452—Packages having a plurality of microwave reactive layers, i.e. multiple or overlapping microwave reactive layers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
    • B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D2581/3463—Means for applying microwave reactive material to the package
    • B65D2581/3466—Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
    • B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D2581/3471—Microwave reactive substances present in the packaging material
    • B65D2581/3472—Aluminium or compounds thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2581/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D2581/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within
    • B65D2581/3437—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • B65D2581/3486—Dielectric characteristics of microwave reactive packaging
    • B65D2581/3494—Microwave susceptor
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S99/00—Foods and beverages: apparatus
    • Y10S99/14—Induction heating

Definitions

  • This invention relates to microwave ovenable trays and packages which are constructed so as to produce browning and/or crisping of a food product or products being heated, and more generally to microwave ovenable trays and packages that provide localized or concentrated heating effects for the food contained therein.
  • a variety of food products do not cook satisfactorily when heated by microwave energy alone. Although the food may be heated to the required temperature, the texture and/or color may not be at all comparable to that achieved when the food is cooked in a conventional oven. Effects that are not sufficiently achieved by microwave heating alone include surface crispness and surface browning for products with a doughy crust such as pizza and breaded products such as fish cakes. Also a surface singeing effect that is often desired in the cooking of meat is not effectively achieved by microwave heating alone. Microwave oven manufacturers have provided ovens with special features that at least partially overcome the shortcomings of microwave ovens just described, but these features, which include browning elements and hot-air convection heating are not available on all ovens and they add substantially to the cost of the ovens that are so equipped.
  • packages for food intended for microwave cooking should incorporate features that provide for localized and concentrated hea'ting effects, such as browning and crisping, where these are desireable for a particular food product.
  • U.S. Patent 4,267,420 issued to Brastad shows a wrapping material, formed of polyester film of a thickness of approximately 0.0005 to 0.001 inches.
  • a thin coating is applied to the film, the coating typically being aluminum which has been evaporated onto the film. The action is such that when the wrapping substance is placed around a food product, a portion of the microwave energy is converted to heat by the evaporated aluminum coating. This heat is transferred to the food item being heated and the food item is thereby browned or crispened.
  • a portion of the microwave energy which is not converted to heat by the aluminum coating passes through the wrapping to thereby heat the food item by the direct action of microwave energy.
  • U.S. Patent 4,555,605 issued to Brown et al is another example of a food package or food container which is constructed so as to provide browning or crisping of a food product to thereby enhance its consistency and appearance immediately prior to consumption.
  • a microwave interactive layer formed of a metallic coating for example, is placed on.one surface of a food support member. The browning action is substantially the same as that of the Brastad construction.
  • the microwave interactive component which is typically a plastic film carrying a thin metallic coating, is in direct contact with the food item to be browned or crispened. This creates a risk, under certain use conditions, that the food may be contaminated because of degradation of the microwave interactive component. For example, it is not unlikely that a package will be subjected to a longer cooking time than intended or placed in a higher wattage microwave oven than intended.
  • the microwave interactive component Under such .conditions the microwave interactive component can overheat to such a degree that it becomes embrittled and possibly cracks, while at the same time the food burns and becomes stuck to the degraded material. Thus, .there is a chance that pieces of the microwave interactive material will stick to the food and be ingested by the consumer.
  • These materials exhibit great resistance to burning, charring, discoloration, smoking, or the emission of odors. These materials are also further suitable for the purpose intended because each provides a suitable medium for the transmission of heat from the layer of microwave absorptive lossy material to the food.
  • these materials have certain definite disadvantages that limit their usefulness in microwave food packaging applications.
  • the metals aluminum, steel, copper and brass all are microwave opaque and will thus block the microwave energy from reaching the absorptive lossy material from one direction.
  • the functionality of the package may be limited because the patterns of energy distribution differ markedly among different microwave ovens and the amount of energy reaching the absorptive lossy material will vary from oven to oven.
  • metals such as aluminum in packages intended for use in microwave ovens creates a possibility for arcing if the metal in the package touches another metal item in a microwave oven such as the wall of the oven, a metal rack or another package of the same type.
  • the other materials proposed by Turpin et al for the food contacting layer, ceramic foil, sheet mica, Portland cement, plaster of Paris, etc. are not suitable for use in disposible packaging - materials because they lack the characteristics of formability or bendability that are important in the manufacture of inexpensive packages.
  • a layer of paperboard is interposed between the food and a layer of material that will convert some of the microwave energy incident thereon to heat.
  • the energy-converting layer may be thus carried on the non-food-contacting surface of the paperboard, or, alternatively, it may be applied to either side of a plastic carrier film which is attached to the non-food-contacting surface of the paperboard.
  • yet another layer of paperboard may be added furthest from the food-contacting surface to define an additional layer of any of the three above- mentioned embodiments.
  • a further advantage of this invention is that the packages are made primarily from a microwave transparent material such as paperboard that will not interfere with the flow of microwave energy to the energy-converting layer from any direction, in contrast to the preferred embodiments of T urpin et al. Also in contrast to the preferred construction in the Turpin et al patent, the packages of this invention do not present a potential for arcing in microwave ovens.
  • Another advantage of this invention over the prior art is that the materials that are used are readily shaped into packages such as trays and cartons and are thus suitable for use in disposable packages.
  • This overcomes the drawback of the various types of ceramic dishes and trays that provide microwave browning, crisping or singeing effects, namely their nondisposable nature.
  • the suitability of the materials used in this invention for the manufacture of disposable packages is also an obvious advantage over the ceramic foil, sheet mica, Portland cement and otherlmaterials proposed by Turpin et al for use in place of aluminum foil as the food-contacting surface.
  • the numeral 10 denotes generally a microwave ovenable package according to the practice of this invention, here shown in the form of a tray or dish having a central, flat portion and sloping sides.
  • the tray is shown broken in the center of the drawing to indicate that the diameter of the tray is greater than that illustrated.
  • some of the layers which make up the microwave ovenable tray of this invention are illustrated as of greater proportional thickness than the actual tray, this being done for purposes of illustration.
  • the numeral 14 denotes a polyester film or layer which is on top of a paperboard layer 16.
  • the polyester film layer 14 may be extruded on the top of paperboard layer 16 prior to bending layer 16 to form the sides of the tray, as will be later described.
  • the numeral 18 denotes a layer of microwave energy-converting material that functions to convert a portion of the microwave energy to heat. The heat thus produced by the microwave energy-converting material is transmitted through the paperboard layer 16 and polyester film 14 to thereby brown or crisp a food product placed on top of the tray 10.
  • the term "upper”, as used in this description shall refer to the vertically upwards direction as viewed in Figure 1.
  • paperboard refers to a paper stock with a thickness of from about 8 mils (0.008 inches) up to about 60 mils (0.060 inches), generally in the range of 10 to 40 mils.
  • energy-converting refers in general to a material or layer which, when placed in a microwave oven, will convert a portion of the microwave energy incident thereon to heat.This includes a material that exhibits the characteristic of converting microwave energy to heat because it is used in a particular form, such as a very thin, electrically resistive coating of aluminum.
  • the energy-converting material which provides the heat to brown or crisp the food product does not, itself, form a part of this invention.
  • Energy-converting materials are known to workers in this art, and are described, for example, in U.S. Patents .4,190,757 issued to Turpin et al, 4,267,420 issued to Brastad, and U.S. Patent 4,555,605 issued to Brown et al, all incorporated by reference.
  • a modification is illustrated wherein the uppermost three layers as described in Figure 1 are the same, and including a dielectric substrate layer 20, here shown in the form of a polyester film which carries the energy-converting layer 18.
  • a dielectric substrate layer 20 here shown in the form of a polyester film which carries the energy-converting layer 18.
  • U.S. Patent 4,267,420 issued to Brastad provides a description of a thin plastic film such as a polyester film, with a very thin, electrically resistive coating, such as an evaporated coating of aluminum, having a surface resistivity in the range of about 1 to 300 ohms per square.
  • a resistive aluminum-coated film can be used to provide the combination of layers 18 and 20 as shown in Figure 2.
  • the dielectric substrate 18 could be paper, or any one of a variety of plastics materials.
  • FIG. 3 another embodiment is illustrated, this embodiment being essentially the same as that in Figure 2, except that in Figure 3 the dielectric substrate 29 is placed on the lower surface of paperboard layer 16, while the layer of energy-converting material 18 is carried on the lower surface of dielectric substrate 20.
  • Figure 4 shows still another embodiment, similar to that of' Figure 2, except that a lowermost paperboard substrate, here denoted by the numeral 26, is placed on the lower surface of dielectric substrate 20.
  • a lowermost paperboard substrate here denoted by the numeral 26
  • this additional layer of paperboard 26 may also be placed as the lowermost layer of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, i.e., paperboard layer 26 may be placed beneath the energy-converting layer 18 of Figure 3, as shown in Figure 5. Further, the paperboard layer 26 may also be placed on the lower surface of the energy-converting material 18 in the embodiment of Figure 1.
  • an adhesive will be used to join some of the layers of the multilayer construction that includes the layer of energy-converting material.
  • an adhesive may be used to join the paperboard layer 16 to the energy-converting layer 18, and also to join paperboard layer 26 to dielectric substrate layer 20.
  • a suitable adhesive for this purpose is a commercially available water-based polyvinyl acetate adhesive, V-6036, from H.B. Fuller Co.
  • the energy-converting layer 18 corresponds to the full area of the tray. In some application sit is preferable to limit the coverage of the energy-converting layer to only a portion of the area of the tray. This is particularly true if the food product is of such a shape and consistency.that it will only cover part of the interior- surface of a tray, such as a pizza in a tray with vertical sidewalls such as that shown in Figure 6. If the energy-converting layer is included in the sidewalls of such a tray when the food product covers only the bottom flat portion of the tray, then there is a possibility of overheating of the sidewall portions of the tray. Such overheating can cause discoloration of the paperboard and/or blistering of the coating of the interior, food-contacting surface of the tray.
  • the design shown in Figure 6 overcomes this problem by limiting the coverage of the energy-converting layer to the portion of the tray that will be covered by the food.
  • This design has a further advantage in that the presence of the energy-converting layer in the sidewalls of the tray would limit the amount of microwave energy that could enter the tray from the sides and this of course means that less microwave energy would reach the food in a given amount of time.
  • the design shown in Figure 6 can result in a shorter cooking time than would be required in the case of a tray with full coverage by the energy-converting layer.
  • This design has still another advantage, and that is that less material is used than would be required if the energy-converting layer extended beyond the area where it is needed to provide the desired browning and crisping effect.
  • the invention has been presented as a tray, and the arrangement of the materials has been described in terms of layers from the top or inner surface to the bottom or exterior surface of a tray. These terms are employed as a convenience in description and are not intended as limiting terms.
  • the invention is applicable to package shapes other than trays, including package shapes where the layers may appear in an inverted order, relative to the preceding descriptions, so that the food-contacting surface is the bottom surface. This variation is important when the food item requires a browning ana/or crisping effect on its top surface.
  • Figure 7 shows a package that provides for localized or concentrated heating effects on the top side of a food item as well as on the bottom and sides, and this is accomplished through the combination of a carton or box 30 that has an energy-converting layer incorporated in a horizontal panel 32 above the food and a tray 34 that also includes an energy-converting layer in a manner comparable to the tray already described.
  • Figure 7 also shows two laminated constructions that are somewhat different than those described earlier.
  • the tray 34 for the purpose of providing a more intense heating effect, there are two energy-converting layers 36 and 38 each on a dielectric substrate 40 and 42, sandwiched together between layers of paperboard 44 and 46.
  • the top layer of paperboard 44 has a polyester coating 48 that serves as the food-contacting surface of the tray.
  • the horizontal panel 32 is of a different constuction, comprising one paperboard layer 50 which has an acrylic coating 52 , applied to the paperboard as an aqueous latex and dried, on the food-contacting side.
  • the horizontal panel 32 may be secured to the top of the box 30 or allowed to rest freely on the surface of a food item in the tray 34.
  • An aluminum-coated film such as that described in the earlier-noted patent to Brastad can be used to provide the combination of an energy-converting layer and a dielectric substrate whenever such a combination is needed in tray 34 or horizontal panel 32.
  • an aluminum-coated film can be used to provide the combination of layers 36 and 40, the combination of layers 38 and 42, and the combination of layers 54 and 56.
  • a package of the type shown in Figure 7 is particularly suitable for the microwave cooking of an item like a meat pot pie or a fruit pie.
  • Such food items normally do not cook to a desireable state in microwave ovens because the crusts do not develop the texture and color that is associated with these food products when they are cooked in conventional ovens.
  • pot pies and fruit pies cooked in microwave ovens generally suffer from a nonuniformity of temperature, such that the center may be cool when the edges are done, or the edges may be boiling over when the center is done.
  • the package design presented in Figure 7 provides improved microwave cooking of pot pies and fruit pies in terms of both the condition of the crust and temperature uniformity throughout the pie.
  • the energy-converting layer in the horizontal panel 32 provides the intense localized heating effect required to brown the top crust of the pie.
  • the two layers of energy-converting material in the tray 34 provide the heating effect required to cook the bottom crust of the pie to a firm consistency comparable to that achieved in a conventional oven.
  • Temperature uniformity through the pie is improved so that the center reaches a suitable temperature of about 140 F before the edges boil over. This improvement in temperature uniformity is due at least partly to the effect of the layers of energy converting material in the tray and in the horizontal panel on the rate of cooking.
  • the rate of cooking of the filling of the pie is slower than it would be if no energy-converting layers were present in the package because the energy-converting layers allow only part of the microwave energy to pass through and reach the pie. This gradual cooking allows more time for heat transfer through the pie during the cooking process.
  • Variations of the package shown in Figure 7 that can be used to supplement the effects already described include the addition of energy-converting layers to the vertical side panels of the box to further extend the cooking time and provisions for an area in the center of the tray 34 or in the center of the horizontal panel 32 where there is no energy-converting material so that a higher concentration of microwave energy can reach the center of the pie.
  • one prior art type of microwave ovenable tray employed a dielectric substrate in the form of a plastic film with the energy-converting material on the lower, or underside of the dielectric substrate.
  • the food product to be heated was placed directly on top of the dielectric substrate. While presumably satisfactory for the purpose of converting some of the microwave energy to heat to thereby brown and crisp a food product in contact with the dielectric substrate, it has been observed that this construction can result in a degradation of the dielectric substrate, with the result that the substrate can become brittle and crack so that pieces of the substrate with the energy-converting material can stick to the food product being heated and browned. This can happen, for example, if the manufacturer or packager of a food product gives directions for heating which include a suggested heating time in a microwave oven.
  • such heating times are based on the average power, as measured in watts, of a microwave oven. If a consumer should employ this length of heating in a microwave oven having a greater power than average, then the resulting greater heating of the energy-converting material may cause the dielectric substrate to become brittle and crack. This can also happen if the consumer subjects the product to a longer cooking time than that specified on the package. For example, with a food product such a pizza and a commerical package based on the teachings of Brown et al in U.S. patent 4,555,695, it has been observed that contamination of the pizza can. occur with extended cooking times in ovens of normal wattage, in the range of 600-700 watts.
  • the upper paperboard substrate 16 is placed above the layer-of energy-converting material or above the dielectric substrate which carries the energy-converting material to thereby prevent the energy-converting material or its dielectric carrier from coming into contact with the food being heated, even if overheating of the energy-converting material takes place due to circumstances of end-use such as have been described.
  • Turpin et al require the use of either metal or ceramic material having high heat resistance for the food contacting layer of the microwave ovenable package.
  • Turpin et al require, in addition to metals such as aluminum,, steel, copper or brass, the use of ceramic foil, sheet mica, Portland cement, or plaster of Paris.
  • Turpin et al refer to a temperature resistant mineral or ceramic, including mineral fibers or glass fibers. Other materials include perlite, sand, alumina, magnesia, or the like.
  • the package of this invention may be manufactured by a variety of known methods that will be apparent to those familar with applying coatings to paperboard, laminating films to paperboard and converting paperboard constructions to package shapes.
  • the package or a part of the package is a tray
  • well known methods can be used to form the paperboard construction into the tray shape.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Electric Ovens (AREA)
EP87303750A 1986-06-25 1987-04-28 Emballage pour cuisson au four à micro-ondes avec effets thermiques contrôlés Ceased EP0251445A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/878,110 US4713510A (en) 1986-06-25 1986-06-25 Package for microwave cooking with controlled thermal effects
US878110 1992-05-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0251445A2 true EP0251445A2 (fr) 1988-01-07
EP0251445A3 EP0251445A3 (fr) 1988-06-29

Family

ID=25371405

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87303750A Ceased EP0251445A3 (fr) 1986-06-25 1987-04-28 Emballage pour cuisson au four à micro-ondes avec effets thermiques contrôlés

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US (1) US4713510A (fr)
EP (1) EP0251445A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0688618B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR880000037A (fr)
AU (1) AU7294987A (fr)

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GB2207589A (en) * 1987-07-28 1989-02-01 Mardon Son & Hall Limited Microwave cooking
GB2211380A (en) * 1987-10-21 1989-06-28 Int Paper Co Flexible package for microwave cooking
EP0344839A1 (fr) * 1988-06-01 1989-12-06 Koninklijke Emballage Industrie Van Leer B.V. Matière d'emballage active bifonctionnelle pour produits alimentaires pour micro-ondes
EP0312333A3 (en) * 1987-10-15 1990-08-22 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave absorbing composite
EP0365729A3 (fr) * 1988-10-24 1991-04-03 Golden Valley Microwave Foods Inc. Feuilles stratifiées chauffables par micro-ondes
EP0350249A3 (fr) * 1988-07-04 1991-05-22 Beckett Industries Inc. Structure laminée et procédé de chauffage
EP0371739A3 (fr) * 1988-11-28 1991-12-27 Beckett Industries Inc. Article de chauffage et son procédé de chauffage
EP0350660A3 (fr) * 1988-07-13 1992-01-02 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. Provision de feuilles composites pour le chauffage à micro-ondes et récipient
EP0559447A1 (fr) * 1992-03-04 1993-09-08 Westvaco Corporation Suscepteur imprimé pour four à microondes ayant une barrière thermique
US5834046A (en) * 1995-05-15 1998-11-10 Golden Valley Microwave Foods, Inc. Construction including internal closure for use in microwave cooking
WO2000035674A1 (fr) * 1998-12-14 2000-06-22 Stora Enso Oyj Materiau a base de carton

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EP0563235B1 (fr) * 1990-12-20 2001-12-05 The Pillsbury Company Structure sensible aux micro-ondes et regulee en temperature
US5225287A (en) * 1991-05-03 1993-07-06 The Pillsbury Company Nickel, chromium, iron alloy type susceptor structure
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US5861184A (en) * 1995-05-23 1999-01-19 Polastar Company Limited Packed and frozen sushi product and process for thawing the same
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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2207589A (en) * 1987-07-28 1989-02-01 Mardon Son & Hall Limited Microwave cooking
EP0312333A3 (en) * 1987-10-15 1990-08-22 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Microwave absorbing composite
GB2211380A (en) * 1987-10-21 1989-06-28 Int Paper Co Flexible package for microwave cooking
EP0344839A1 (fr) * 1988-06-01 1989-12-06 Koninklijke Emballage Industrie Van Leer B.V. Matière d'emballage active bifonctionnelle pour produits alimentaires pour micro-ondes
EP0350249A3 (fr) * 1988-07-04 1991-05-22 Beckett Industries Inc. Structure laminée et procédé de chauffage
EP0350660A3 (fr) * 1988-07-13 1992-01-02 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. Provision de feuilles composites pour le chauffage à micro-ondes et récipient
EP0365729A3 (fr) * 1988-10-24 1991-04-03 Golden Valley Microwave Foods Inc. Feuilles stratifiées chauffables par micro-ondes
EP0371739A3 (fr) * 1988-11-28 1991-12-27 Beckett Industries Inc. Article de chauffage et son procédé de chauffage
EP0559447A1 (fr) * 1992-03-04 1993-09-08 Westvaco Corporation Suscepteur imprimé pour four à microondes ayant une barrière thermique
US5834046A (en) * 1995-05-15 1998-11-10 Golden Valley Microwave Foods, Inc. Construction including internal closure for use in microwave cooking
WO2000035674A1 (fr) * 1998-12-14 2000-06-22 Stora Enso Oyj Materiau a base de carton

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0688618B2 (ja) 1994-11-09
AU7294987A (en) 1988-01-07
US4713510A (en) 1987-12-15
EP0251445A3 (fr) 1988-06-29
KR880000037A (ko) 1988-03-23
JPS6325421A (ja) 1988-02-02

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